Battle of Bologna

The Battle of Bologna (early December 1796) was a battle of the French Revolutionary Wars that occurred when a French army of 1,599 troops under Jean-Andre Massena sortied against a besieging Papal army of 756 troops under Nazario Lagrangia at the city of Bologna. The French had more troops, and they decided to form a massive "L" shape with their army, allowing for them to fire on the Papal forces from two sides. The Papal army was massacred by heavy gunfire, and the French ruthlessly pursued the fleeing Papal troops. The Battle of Bologna destroyed the Papal States' armies in the field, and the Papal States put all of its money into strengthening the defenses of Ancona.